Letter to Prime Minister of Canada

By David Matas and David Kilgour
November 29, 2009

Right Honourable Stephen Harper
Prime Minister of Canada
Ottawa

Dear Prime Minister:

On the occasion of your visit to China, we ask to raise these matters with the Government of China.

1) We ask that you repeat to the Government the request which Canada made to China at the time of the UN Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review and, in particular,

a) that China publish death penalty statistics,

b) that China abolish all forms of arbitrary detention, including re-education through labour camps,

c) that China implement the recommendations of the UN Committee against Torture. The Committee took cognizance of the fact that the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture had asked for a full explanation of the source of organ transplants to explain away, if possible, the fact that an increase in organ transplant operations had coincided with the beginning of the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. Further, the Committee recommended that China conduct or commission an independent investigation into the claims that Falun Gong practitioners had been subjected to torture and used for organ transplants. As well, the Committee proposed that China take measures to ensure that those responsible for such abuses were prosecuted and punished.

2) We further request that Government of Canada negotiate with the Government of China an agreement committing the Government of China to ensure that prison labour products are not exported to Canada. The agreement should allow Canadian officials to gain access to Chinese production facilities suspected of exporting forced labour products.

3) We request that you ask the Government of China to cease the persecution of the Falun Gong in general and the killing of the Falun Gong for their organs for transplants in particular.

4) Finally, we request that you ask the Government of China to cease sourcing organs for transplants from prisoners of any sort.

Sincerely yours,

David Matas           David Kilgour